First...
this was NOT my own creative idea.
I happened upon it while reading comments on another site
in my search for the Dorie Greenspan cookie recipe I shared with you.

Second...
this was such a clever concept...
I couldn't wait to try it out...

BAKiNG iN MASON JAR LiDS

Yes...that's right.
Using the band of a mason jar lid...
You've got yourself an instant alternative for baking with ring molds.
Ring molds are what Dorie Greenspan uses to bake her infamous French Sablés Jammers...
the cookies/recipe I shared with you last week for the Bloggers + Bakers Holiday Cookie Exchange.

Here's how it works...

After you've got your mason jar bands lined up on your cookie sheet...
simply press a portion of the Jammer cookie dough into the center of a band
until the edges of the dough meet all sides of the band.

Place a spoonful of jam into the center of the dough.
Sprinkle streusel around the jam.

My brilliant idea:

Use a small cookie cutter to place around your jam as you spoon on the streusel.

This makes it super easy to avoid getting the streusel into your jam center.

Bake as directed.

Once the cookies are a golden brown...

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

My brilliant tip/technique for removing cookies from cookie sheet:

Press down and twist on the mason jar band - just as you would to open/close a jar.

This not only loosens the cookie from the baking sheet...

but it also breaks the seal between the cookie and the mason jar band.

Lift band/cookie from the baking sheet.

From the bottom of the mason jar band...

use your fingers to GENTLY push up on the cookie...

completely releasing it from the band.

Allow to cool completely. 

Store in airtight container 2-3 days.

Pretty cool, right?

I know I was intrigued...

I hope you were too.

And as always...

if you try this out - I'd LOVE to hear about your results.

Just leave a comment

or if you'd like to share photos, send them to: pnpflowers AT live DOT com

KEEPiNG iT REAL

My weekend? A bit hectic.

Christmas Tree hunting on Saturday with the family.

Put up 2 Christmas Trees (lights only right now).

Put lights on our bushes. (that only took about 30 minutes).

J's company Holiday Party Saturday night.

Neighborhood Christmas Party/Cookie Exchange Sunday afternoon.

Christmas Concert Sunday night.

AND...

I made the Chocolate Truffle Mini Tarts from Carrie

and the Chocolate Crinkles from Kim!

Both treats were a big hit with everyone.

iNSPiRE | Bloggers + Bakers Holiday Cookie Exchange

If you are hungry for some inspiration...

in the form of cookie recipes + fabulous creative packaging ideas...

I've got a surprise for you today that will surely feed you!

Some amazing Blogging + Baking friends have come together...

in the midst of this bustling, crazy, hectic holiday season...

to take the time to swap recipes and fun packaging ideas for gift giving.

Our hopes are to inspire one another...

and essentially to inspire all of YOU!!

So without further ado...

Here is my personal contribution...

for the 2012 Bloggers + Bakers Holiday Cookie Exchange...

THE COOKIE

French Sablés • Classic Jammers

recipe from Dorie Greenspan | Beurre and Sel

Seriously the most amazing cookie I've ever made - or tasted! It is absolutely delicious.

THE CREATIVE PACKAGING

Beverage Coasters

Silver ones I found at an antique store or Martha Stewart scalloped paper coasters

Coasters are perfect for creating a beautiful foundation for stacking these fabulous cookies...

or any cookies for that matter.
They add a beautiful finishing touch to otherwise basic packaging.

Simply wrap your stacked cookies in saran to maintain freshness...

Stack on coaster of choice...

finish by wrapping with ribbon.

THE RECIPE

French Sablés • Classic Jammers

recipe from Dorie Greenspan | Beurre and Sel

my personal notes/suggestions/experience are referenced in red

INGREDIENTS

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 2 large egg yolks, room temperature

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Streusel and Assembly

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 5 1/2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
                Using room temp butter will not produce results you need! Trust me!! 

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3/4 cup thick jam, such as lingonberry, apricot, orange marmalade, and blackberry

Special equipment

• A 2-inch cookie cutter; 3 standard 12-cup muffin tins
I used mason jar rings for baking instead.  They worked beautifully. GO HERE for the How-To

PREPARATION

Cookie Dough

• Using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter in a large bowl until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.

                Add both sugars and salt; beat until well blended, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low; beat in egg yolks and

                vanilla. Add flour and mix just to combine. Dough will be soft and slightly sticky.

• Divide dough in half. Place each half between sheets of parchment or waxed paper. Flatten dough into disks.

                Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough, occasionally lifting paper on both sides for easy rolling, until 1/4

                inches thick. Freeze dough in paper until firm, at least 2 hours.
                DO AHEAD: Dough can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep frozen. 

Streusel

• Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Using your fingertips, rub butter and vanilla into dry

                ingredients until no large lumps remain and butter is well incorporated. Streusel will be sandy and hold its

                shape when pressed between your fingers. Cover and chill.
                I really took my time and enjoyed the process of hand-mixing. It was a bit therapeutic.
                DO AHEAD: Streusel can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
                

ASSEMBLY

• Arrange a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. 

• Using cookie cutter, cut out rounds of frozen dough from freezer. Place rounds in bottom of muffin cups and

                gently pat to flatten. Continue cutting frozen dough into rounds; gather scraps and repeat process of rolling out

                and cutting to make 34 rounds. Cover muffin tins with foil and chill in freezer until dough is firm, about 30

                minutes or up to 2 days.

• Spoon about 1 teaspoon jam into the center of each round of dough. Using your fingers or a small spoon,

                sprinkle 1-1 1/2 tablespoons streusel around edges of each cookie, trying not to get any in the jam. 

• Bake cookies, in batches if needed, until sides and streusel are golden, 20-22 minutes.
                Mine baked for 25 minutes and I still think I should've let them get a little more golden.
                Let cool in tins for 15 minutes. Run a small knife around edges of muffin cups; gently remove cookies
                and let cool completely on a wire rack.
                DO AHEAD: Cookies can be baked 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

ADDITIONAL INSPIRATION

Be sure to visit the blogs for each of these lovely ladies to preview their contributions for the Cookie Exchange this year:

Kim | The TomKat Studio

Jenn | Hostess with the Mostess

Carrie | Half Baked :: The Cake Blog

Glory | Glorious Treats

Marian | Sweetopia

I'd like to personally thank all of the sweet friends who participated.
It's an exceptionally busy time of year...
which is why I sincerely appreciate the time to you took to help make this happen.
Thank You.

And thanks to all of you for being here...
Here's to a fabulous Holiday Season for all of us!

RESOURCES

Pink Paper Coasters - Martha Stewart Vintage Girl Collection

STYLiNG | Cookie Exchange or Bake Sale Packaging Station

As promised...

here are the full details from the Cookie Exchange I styled for The Party Dress Magazine - Holiday 2012.

If you've considered hosting a Holiday Cookie Exchange...

but never followed through...

I'm hoping the one I'm about to share with you...

will give you the extra push you need to gather your friends/family together for some Holiday fun.

I set out to create something that would encourage spending quality time with the people you love 

in addition to providing each guest the opportunity to be productive by providing them

with the tools needed to creatively package up homemade treats for holiday gift-giving.

Guests arrive with their pre-baked homemade cookies and corresponding recipe; 

You provide the essentials for creatively packaging up the cookies.

This collection goes beyond the Holidays as well...

I designed it to be versatile enough to be used for a Bake Sale too. (think church/school fundraiser)

Celebration Type: Holiday Cookie Exchange (or Bake Sale)

Inspiration: Oversized Paper flowers/Snowflakes from TomKat Studio

Color Palette: Red, Pinks, Blue, Green & Yellow

Party Style: Modern • Whimsical

COOKIE EXCHANGE/BAKE SALE PACKAGING STATION

Using the fun, coordinating party supplies from The TomKat Studio made it super easy to put all of this together.

The oversized paper flowers, striped cookie boxes, pink and blue polka dot party cups and the striped cupcake liners/baking cups...

were my inspiration for creating the entire printable collection that helped pull everything together.

I hope I've inspired you to host your own cookie exchange this holiday season.

I realize it's an incredibly busy time for all of us...

which is all the more reason to take some time to connect with those we love.

TIPS for hosting a successful Cookie Exchange:

• Have each guest bring 1 dozen cookies for each person in attendance.

• Have serving vessels and cake plates ready for guests to easily add their cookies upon arrival.

• Encourage guests to bring the recipe for the cookie they are bringing.

• Sturdy cookies are best for swapping and packaging

• Ask each guest to bring a spool or two of coordinating ribbon and a package of tape.

FUN SUGGESTION

Make the Cookie Exchange (or Bake Sale) a contest.

Number the cookies as they arrive and keep the identity of the baker a secret. After the cookies are put on display, allow guests to sample each cookie and vote on their favorite. Reveal the baker associated with each cookie after voting has finished and the winner has been announced. Proceed with packaging up the cookies for gift-giving.

FABULOUS PRIZE FOR THE WINNER:

Present the winner with a gorgeous "Give" plate by Aedriel Originals - a beautiful gift that encourages filling the plate with treats/goodies, giving it as a gift and then having the receiver continue the cycle of giving.

The printable Cookie Exchange/Bake Sale printables are now available for purchase in my shoppe.

My sweet blog readers and fans will enjoy a 50% discount using this code during checkout: BAKESALE50

COOKIE EXCHANGE/BAKE SALE PRINTABLE BUNDLE INCLUDES:

• "Cookie Exchange" Banner

• "Bake Sale" Banner

• Gift Tags for Packaging

• Packaging Station Supply Labels

  - Ribbon

  - Tags

  - Bags

  - Pretty Paper Cups

  - Tape

  - Scissors

  - Plates

  - Pen & Markers

  - Boxes

  - Blanks

• Blank Cookie Labels (use a White Sharpie Paint Marker to fill in name)

• Fill-In Invitations

• Envelope Wraps

• Recipe Cards

• 2 Sheets of 8.5x11 Designer Paper (1- Stripe 1-Polka Dot)

VENDOR CREDITS/SOURCES

• Cookie Exchange Printables - Pen N' Paperflowers

• Striped Cookie Boxes - TomKat Studio Shop

• Oversized Paper Flowers/Snowflakes - TomKat Studio Shop

• Striped Cupcake Liners (mini and regular) - TomKat Studio Shop

• Polka Dot Party Cups - TomKat Studio Shop

• "Give...pass it on" Plate - Aedriel Originals

• Little French Farmhouse Sprinkles - TomKat Studio Shop

• Colorful Serving Spatulas - Homegoods

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I ADORE the "Give" plate idea from Aedriel Originals so. much.

However...

it's so beautiful... 

it's going to be hard to giveaway. *wink*

But my Mom always told me it's the gifts you want to keep for yourself that make the best gifts.

Don't you agree?

PRESS | The Party Dress Magazine 2012 Holiday Issue

To compliment the busy week I've had...

I've got a busy day awaiting...

and then a somewhat busy weekend ahead.

With that said...

I wanted to quickly leave you with some eye cookies candy I created for...

The Party Dress Magazine Holiday 2012 Issue

This is a glimpse into the Cookie Exchange I styled for the magazine...
I'll be sharing more details next week.

In the meantime...
check out the full magazine RIGHT HERE...
just released yesterday...
filled with wonderful Holiday inspiration from an array of talented bloggers/vendors.
I know you'll enjoy it!!

THREE other points of interest:

#1:  WINNER ANNOUNCED:
The winner of the Work Inspired™ Compendium Giveaway has been announced. Was it YOU?
Scroll down to the Rafflecopter Widget within the Giveaway Post to see the winner's name displayed.

#2:  2012 PEPPERMINT GIVEAWAYS
I'm giving away 

The Pastry Pedestal™ Starter Kit

and a $50 Shoppe Credit in another AMAZiNG giveaway going on RIGHT NOW!!

It's sponsored by Fabulous Fun Finds...
with so much fabulous loot to win...
the prizes have been broken down into 5 specific categories/prize packages:

One winner from each category TAKES ALL!
That's right...
one winner will be chosen from each category.
Each winner gets everything within the category they've won.

Here is the direct link for each category:
Photographers
Womens
Girls 
Home/Hostess
Boys and their Toys

You won't believe how much stuff is up for grabs!?
Both of the items I'm giving away are listed within the Home/Hostess Category!

Tell your friends/family to enter too...
You could split the prizes if you wanted!!
If you win, your Holiday Shopping could be finished!! 
There's something for everyone.

#3:  GET CRAFTY THIS WEEKEND
Make the Vintage Farmhouse Pumpkin I shared with you earlier this week!

Thanks for being here my sweet, sweet friends.
I loved reading your comments about what you love most about my blog.
My heart melted...

KEEPiNG iT REAL
The deadlines I have today are SO super fun...
but I'm totally freaking out, hoping I get them all done.
Hey!
That rhymed! *wink*
Maybe I should turn that into an art print...
since I could pretty much say that on a daily basis! Ha!